Metro Vancouverites could see sunshine and hot temperatures over the Canada Day long weekend.
While Environment Canada's forecast confidence wanes after mid-next week (Wednesday, June 26 or Thursday, June 27), a ridge of high pressure is expected to build into the long weekend.
Meteorologist Ken Dosanjh tells V.I.A. that a ridge of high pressure is currently responsible for rising temperatures 6 to 7 C above seasonal averages, with places on the coast experiencing highs of 26 C or 27 C and inland ones up to 29 C on Friday, June 21.
Average daytime highs for mid to late June in Metro Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»sit at 19.5 C.
The ridge of high pressure also prevented smoke from clearing the area following a destructive fire in Richmond. Friday's air quality statement was lifted in the late morning but some haze should remain in the air until some off-shore winds clear it out of the area in the evening.
Metro Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»weather forecast includes a cool shift
Warmer-than-average temperatures should cool slightly starting on Saturday, June 22. V.I.A.'s Downtown Centre Weatherhood station shows a high of 23 C (compared to Friday's 26 C).
Dosanjh says showers are possible overnight Saturday and temperatures should shift toward a cooler trend starting Sunday. Most areas should see daytime highs close to seasonal (18 to 20 C).
Next week's forecast should include more unsettled weather, with a second chance for precipitation on Wednesday. Thursday may also see wet weather but skies could clear heading into Friday.
Dosanjh says Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»has nearly received June's average precipitation amount, meaning additional rainfall would be a bonus.
But there's no firm guarantee the weekend will see clearing conditions.
"From Thursday onwards, our solutions vary a lot," he notes. "It's a weak ridge heading into the weekend. [The ridge] would mean warmer temperatures. The [forecast confidence] is low but the ridge is promising."
Stay up-to-date with hyperlocal forecasts across 50 neighbourhoods in the Lower Mainland with V.I.A.'s Weatherhood.